Gifts For New Teachers

Welcoming new teachers into the profession is an exciting and important milestone in their journey. As they embark on this new chapter in their lives, finding the right gift to celebrate and support them can be a thoughtful gesture. However, selecting gifts for new teachers can be challenging, as their preferences and needs may still be unknown. But, we know that a lot of family and friends will be right there rooting for them, and may be looking for some gift ideas too! Read on whether you are shopping for a loved one, a new teacher for your kids, or a fellow teacher at the school.

One of the key aspects to consider when choosing a gift for a new teacher is their passion for education and their commitment to shaping young minds. Reflecting on the immense dedication and time they invest in nurturing our children can guide us in finding the perfect gift. While specific gift ideas are not provided here, it’s essential to consider items or experiences that can assist them in their teaching journey.

New teachers often face unique challenges as they navigate their classrooms and curriculum for the first time. Practical gifts that aid in class organization, lesson planning, school supplies, or classroom management can be invaluable. Additionally, resources such as books, educational materials, or subscriptions to professional development platforms can enhance their teaching skills and provide inspiration.

Supporting new teachers emotionally and mentally is equally important. Gifts that promote self-care, such as relaxation items, wellness subscriptions, or mindfulness tools, can help them navigate the demands of their new role while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Encouraging their personal growth and well-being is a thoughtful way to show your appreciation and support. If you are a loved one shopping for a new teacher gift, you might want to hop to the bottom for some more significant gift ideas!

New Teacher Classroom Prep

It is especially scary and a big deal to have your class and prepare as a first-time teacher, this is why gifts for new teachers is keyyyyyyy. Imagine you just graduated and are now a teacher responsible for your classroom and children. It feels less overwhelming when you have all the necessary items, resources, and space ready for the first day. Even after student teaching, this is a big step!

New teachers not only have to get the basic classroom supplies, but they have to think up and shop for a classroom decor theme, and classroom organization, and so many more things they probably don’t even know yet!

Here are just some quick ideas on things you can gift to a new teacher!

Classroom Supplies

Teacher supplies are comforting and a great start off as a new teacher. Parents can stock up the classroom supplies from the teachers’ supply list or Amazon wish list that is usually sent out prior to the school year, as a gift for their first school day. This will relieve the teacher of the stress of getting all things done and also the financial burden given that the teachers stock up supplies from their pockets. New teachers may also create wish lists on other sites. Anything from markers, highlighters, pencils, crayons, scissors (age appropriate kind), and any items needed for the class will be of great use.

If the teacher doesn’t have a specific wishlist, it is easy to google ‘classroom supplies for 1st grade’ or ‘classroom teacher list for 1st grade’ or the appropriate age or subject, and find some good info! Plus you have kiddos, you probably know a lot of the things they use frequently at home anyway.

If you want to be their absolute HERO when choosing your gift for new teachers, you can find bulk packs like these Crayola marker sets to really give them a jump start. Plus we know how fast markers dry out!

Even small organization bins or other things might help out! Just make sure they are returnable, or at the very least aren’t too ‘theme’ or color related so they can still be used anywhere.

In addition to finding tons of items on Amazon, there are also tons of awesome independent retailers in the classroom and education industry. Discount School Supply is one of the tops of the game, so be sure to check out their selection as well. They have a huge variety of classroom and teacher centric items like classroom decor, furniture, books, supplies and so much more!

Supplies For New Teachers

Here are some of my favorite picks for new teachers, and definitely things they will need as they start their teacher careers.

Time

Another way to gift a new teacher especially, is by offering any type of support. Most times new teachers feel overwhelmed by all the new developments and things happening around the school. Volunteering to help with things like organizing an event, class party, field trip or supporting your child’s teacher in class is another way to show appreciation. Giving your time to help out when you can be among the best gifts for a new teacher.

They do have to get their classroom ready too, so if you have some time to spare during the summer, you can see if they need help decorating their classroom like hanging bulletin boards or moving desks or tables around. Even just helping to clean the surfaces from the previous teacher. You could help make copies, laminate items, or remove classroom supplies from packaging. I’ll never forget the blisters from helping to hand sharpen pencils one time. The littlest things will help save them time!

Gift Cards

You can also give gift cards from local coffee shops, stores and restaurants. This is a nice way to appreciate a teacher and promote local businesses. Introduce the new teacher to a local joint or restaurant that you think they will enjoy. Amazon gift cards are also a good teacher gift. The teacher can buy pretty much anything from Amazon in addition to classroom essentials. It is also a practical and thoughtful gift.

Amazon gift cards are the most preferred by the majority of teachers. This is because of the ease of shopping among other benefits like being able to get almost anything.

You also can’t go wrong with the big box stores that offer a wide range of products like Walmart, Target, and HomeGoods (or similar in your area) where new teachers will easily find something that can help in the classroom.

You can never go wrong with a gift card. There is no specific amount to spend either. You choose what you are comfortable with. Treat the teacher to a place where they can stock up on the school supplies or enjoy for personal reasons.

You can gift a new teacher with a gift card restricted to classroom items only too if you are more comfortable knowing it will go to the benefit of the kids. This will help offset the cost of purchasing classroom resources. Many educators will appreciate that gesture. You can also send the teacher a gift card for classroom décor from companies like Teacher Created Resources, Trend, Eureka, Discount School Supply or the original, Creative Teaching Press. PS, you can also get many of their products through Amazon now too.

The first year of teaching is probably the MOST expensive year for new teachers, and the hardest given they just got out of school. Any little amount will help!

Hand Made Gifts

Homemade gifts are another way to appreciate a new teacher, especially for parents who love doing DIY projects with their kids. These can be cards, gift baskets, or ornaments. These are items that will be cherished forever. This is also inexpensive and your kid also gets to participate in the project. This is also a way to nurture the bond between the new teacher and the kid. You can also shop for unique and handmade pieces online from shops like Etsy.

There are things you can even make for the classroom. Teachers could use a door sign like ‘Ms. Jane’s Classroom’ or a desk version. You could make a pen cup, or chair cover if you are a sewer. Just think of your strength’s in the crafting arena and what a teacher might need in their room.

Personalized Gifts

The best gifts for a new teacher can also be unique and thoughtful purchases like personalized fountain pens, fun story books, a note from the little one, water bottles, key rings, coffee mugs, etc. For new graduates, a heartfelt gift that welcomes and eases their transition into the next chapter of life will be most appreciated. Nothing feels better than something made just for you.

You can grab these kinds of gifts on sites like Etsy, Zazzle, Amazon and many more!

Check out my other post on personalized teacher gifts for even more ideas.

General Gifts

Get a neutral gift that anyone would love. It can be quite a task choosing gift for someone you have not interacted with. Personal taste is a vital consideration when gifting. Make the gift unique and practical. Things like water bottles, tumbler cups, or cute fake plants for classroom décor are some of the ideas you cannot go wrong with. It goes a long way in building the teacher-child relationship. A gift from the parent to a teacher not only shows appreciation but also a way to show support.

A welcome to our school gift is comforting and something a teacher will cherish forever. The budget for this doesn’t have to be much however, it is good to make sure you spend within the amount recommended by the school, and by your own wallet of course. For bigger surprises, multiple parents can pool resources together to purchase a group gift.

Teacher Post-Graduation Gifts

These are thoughtful gifts that you can send to a newly certified teacher as a friend or family member as well. As much as they will need classroom items to help improve their teaching performance it is also okay to treat them with fun experiences outside school like a spa date. If you aren’t a parent of a student, and are instead looking for a gift to give a graduation gift for a new teacher in your life who just finished school (like a graduation gift), here are some other ideas! Although any of the above will still work. But if they are family or close friends, you might want to get them something a bit more significant. Plus you know them better!

Some classroom items you can get the teacher include laminators, a heavy-duty stapler, lesson planners (different than a calendar), classroom door sign, or a desk organizer. You can also gift the new teacher a survival kit with hand sanitizer, wet wipes, sticky notes, bandaids, some supplies, and treats.

Above are some of the ways to prepare a new teacher for the career ahead of them by making things in the classroom a little easier for them to cope with. Teaching is at times very challenging as much as it can be a rewarding career. Being a first time teacher is a big step, and your gestures will make a world of difference as they go on this new adventure. Take your time to find a the right gifts for new teachers to help them get started and find footing with ease.

New Teacher Gift Ideas